History

The mandate of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict was established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1996 to strengthen the protection of children affected by armed conflicts, raise awareness, promote the collection of information on the situation of children affected by war, and foster international cooperation to improve their protection.

A strong commitment from the international community and the highest UN bodies has allowed the Special Representative’s mandate to continually evolve to better meet the needs of children affected by war.

Chronology

1996 – Report by Graça Machel, ”The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children”

In her report presented to the General Assembly, Graça Machel, a former Minister of Education from Mozambique, highlighted the disproportionate impact of war on children and identified them as the primary victims of armed conflicts. The report led to the adoption of General Assembly resolution 51/77, which created the mandate and recommended that the Secretary-General appoint a Special Representative on the impact of armed conflict on children. The resolution also called for the Special Representative to prepare reports on the situation of children affected by armed conflicts to be presented to the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.

1998 – First debate in the UN Security Council on children and armed conflicts. The Security Council expressed support for the mandate of the Special Representative in a presidential statement.

1999 – Security Council resolution 1261

The first resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on children and armed conflicts placed the issue of children affected by war on the Security Council’s agenda. The Council identified and condemned the six grave violations committed against children in times of conflict, and requested the Secretary-General to present a first report on the situation of children in armed conflict as an issue affecting peace and security.

2000 – Security Council resolution 1314

The second resolution on children and armed conflicts reaffirmed that the deliberate targeting of civilians, including children, could constitute a threat to peace and security. It requested the Secretary-General to continue reporting to the Security Council on violations committed against children in conflict times.

[Short Context: The resolutions highlight the international efforts to protect children affected by armed conflicts and hold perpetrators accountable for violations under international law.]

[Fact check: The dates and details of each resolution are accurately summarized from the original content.]